WT News:White House Wary, Web Virus Attack Fails
NYT News: Hacker Virus Target White House, Misses
WT Ed: White House Web Worm A Wash
NYT Ed: Hackers and Politics: What Future Will the Internet Ruin for Democracy?
Many of the laws passed in our nation, at all levels, are aimed at specific situations in response, it seems, to the 'crisis of the day', rather than being well-thought out or considered in the light of calm and rational logic.
Do you believe that laws are to be passed and enforced to prevent harmful or deleterious acts by individuals and groups to other individuals or groups, or are laws to be passed and enforced to impose a common 'standard of behavior' to which all citizens must comply without regard for harmful or deleterious acts by individuals or groups?
The article cites that if the computer, scanner or software or other components fail, the law would apply.
IANALBIP1OTv, the proposed law appears to be a 'whole body' warranty...that is, if you buy the computer system, then it is covered by the proposed law in its entirety.
If the modem doesn't work, it gets replaced, fixed or refunded. If the pre-loaded software makes the system crash, you're covered.
Astute readers will notice the 'between the lines' part of this...the proposed law will cover what's on the machine at the time of purchase.
Reformat the drive and load Linux, and you've voided the software component of the warranty, though the hardware portion will likely still be in effect.
So...order your system with Linux pre-installed, and it should be covered. Go back to the same dealer and have them install any upgrades, and you should be able to continue to be covered.
It looks like a good effort; the practice if its passed and signed into law will be very interesting to watch.
The problem here is that this isn't just a free speech issue. People are actually buying the items being offered for sale (presumambly, or they wouldn't have auctioned off in the first place); there's a big difference there. This isn't just "stating your opinion", it's "taking action based on your opinion". The former is harmless, the latter is a real-world action that can actually lead to harm.
So historians, movie prop people and artists making a point (whatever it may be) are all Nazis and Nazi sympathizers because they use swastikas and regalia in the course of their work?
Short of mind control, you can't prevent someone from burning down another's home or some other criminal/hateful act. You can, however, punish them for performing that act, without regard for the reasons or rationale behind it.
It's been a long-held public policy to allow people to use whatever forums to preach their beliefs...just as it is a long-held public policy to be able to ignore the raving lunatics without fear of punishment or reprisal, as well as to listen if you so desire.
What this French decision does is disallow the citizens to make their own decisions...the State is making the decision for them as to what is and is not offensive, in the 'opinion of the State'.
That is an inherently Bad Thing.
"Eustace? Eustace? Are you there? Are you there?" = John Leeming
There is a simple economic fact that may be overlooked here...that for every one of us "cluefuls" who would buy it to hack into, there are at least ten "clueless" who will buy it for the services that it offers. Why not return to the old design, and offer a 'hack kit' option with it? A hard drive bundled with the OS of choice for a reasonable cost would still be a draw...I'd think that the OS manufacturers would offer up a cheaper pre-load package if they knew it was going into the market on this level, if not pay to have their OS offered instead of someone else's. And it would be a simple way to get Linux into the home market as well, if not encourage development of more 'home-frinedly' applications and bundles.
Slashdot Mirror
Check out the CV on Chris Israel, the person who is supposed to be collecting comments for his office to work on.
Seems like Jack Valenti has his hands up all the major puppets these days...
...which leaves the question...
Does this mean that they need more "big rocks" under the Great Lakes, or can they still use the same "big rock" to use this?
WT News:White House Wary, Web Virus Attack Fails
NYT News: Hacker Virus Target White House, Misses
WT Ed: White House Web Worm A Wash
NYT Ed: Hackers and Politics: What Future Will the Internet Ruin for Democracy?
Many of the laws passed in our nation, at all levels, are aimed at specific situations in response, it seems, to the 'crisis of the day', rather than being well-thought out or considered in the light of calm and rational logic.
Do you believe that laws are to be passed and enforced to prevent harmful or deleterious acts by individuals and groups to other individuals or groups, or are laws to be passed and enforced to impose a common 'standard of behavior' to which all citizens must comply without regard for harmful or deleterious acts by individuals or groups?
The article cites that if the computer, scanner or software or other components fail, the law would apply.
IANALBIP1OTv, the proposed law appears to be a 'whole body' warranty...that is, if you buy the computer system, then it is covered by the proposed law in its entirety.
If the modem doesn't work, it gets replaced, fixed or refunded. If the pre-loaded software makes the system crash, you're covered.
Astute readers will notice the 'between the lines' part of this...the proposed law will cover what's on the machine at the time of purchase.
Reformat the drive and load Linux, and you've voided the software component of the warranty, though the hardware portion will likely still be in effect.
So...order your system with Linux pre-installed, and it should be covered. Go back to the same dealer and have them install any upgrades, and you should be able to continue to be covered.
It looks like a good effort; the practice if its passed and signed into law will be very interesting to watch.
The problem here is that this isn't just a free speech issue. People are actually buying the items being offered for sale (presumambly, or they wouldn't have auctioned off in the first place); there's a big difference there. This isn't just "stating your opinion", it's "taking action based on your opinion". The former is harmless, the latter is a real-world action that can actually lead to harm.
So historians, movie prop people and artists making a point (whatever it may be) are all Nazis and Nazi sympathizers because they use swastikas and regalia in the course of their work?
Short of mind control, you can't prevent someone from burning down another's home or some other criminal/hateful act. You can, however, punish them for performing that act, without regard for the reasons or rationale behind it.
It's been a long-held public policy to allow people to use whatever forums to preach their beliefs...just as it is a long-held public policy to be able to ignore the raving lunatics without fear of punishment or reprisal, as well as to listen if you so desire.
What this French decision does is disallow the citizens to make their own decisions...the State is making the decision for them as to what is and is not offensive, in the 'opinion of the State'.
That is an inherently Bad Thing.
"Eustace? Eustace? Are you there? Are you there?" = John Leeming
There is a simple economic fact that may be overlooked here...that for every one of us "cluefuls" who would buy it to hack into, there are at least ten "clueless" who will buy it for the services that it offers. Why not return to the old design, and offer a 'hack kit' option with it? A hard drive bundled with the OS of choice for a reasonable cost would still be a draw...I'd think that the OS manufacturers would offer up a cheaper pre-load package if they knew it was going into the market on this level, if not pay to have their OS offered instead of someone else's. And it would be a simple way to get Linux into the home market as well, if not encourage development of more 'home-frinedly' applications and bundles.